June, 2017

Posted by admin on Jun 2, 2017 in Home | Comments Off on Stained Glass & Leadlights for your Home

What Are Leadlights and What Makes Them Unique?

The first thing to consider about leadlights is that they are often mistaken for stained glass windows, because of the way that they look. One main difference to consider is that with stained panels of glass, the colour is often only applied to the surface, in the form of an ink. The more expensive type of staining will typically be dyed and this style can last longer.

Leadlight products are different however, in the sense that A) not all of the glass is dyed and is sometimes left transparent and B) the use of lead is a prominent feature. Although led can be dangerous if allowed to come into contact with human skin – the low concentrates used for this type of window design can be fairly safe to use within a home. As a result it can be possible to create mosaics of glass that are finely interwoven, with lead that can act to hold the entire piece together. The entire effect can be spectacularly showcased with led flood lighting solutions to create the perfect atmosphere.

What Makes Them Unique When Compared to Stained Glass?

As mentioned above, the colour options available to both types of glass can be one of the main reasons why they are often mistaken for one another. In reality, the thing that makes lead-based glass so different is the way that it’s constructed. Each piece is typically heat treated and tempered, to ensure that the panels remain as durable as possible when faced with the elements.

Furthermore, as lead can be super-heated to allow it to become more malleable, it can be possible to create eye-catching and captivating designs to be enjoyed by anyone fortunate enough to look at them. There are all sorts of buildings that can benefit from this style of glass; from old architecture dating back hundreds of years, to newly built homes that may want to introduce a vintage style.

As each panel can be removed and replaced with relative ease (particularly when hiring a glazier to do so), it can be possible to maintain the look of the glass well into the future. If an individual piece should ever suffer with damage it can be easy to switch for a fresh piece – but where the style really shines is in its wide versatility when it comes to cleaning.

When cleaning and polishing uncoloured glass, the majority of over the counter cleaners can be more than suitable. When cleaning dyed glass, the concern over washing away colour can be all but non-existent, as the entire piece will have been coloured and heat treated to ensure the vibrancy of the hue. When cleaning laminated glass however, it can be important to avoid abrasive chemicals, as these can strip colour or even cause peeling, which can detract from the aesthetics of individual panels and the window as a whole.

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